Teaching Artists & Performers
"Connecting Artists to Opportunities."
Teaching/Spoken Word Artist: Zeda Stew is a poet and writer originally from Milwaukee WI, currently residing in the Cincinnati area who is ranked #5 nationwide. Zeda’s work is centered around life experience taking an empathetic view on life’s plights. Striving to live in her purpose she shares her views through her writing. Her first poetry book is coming soon Title “In Sight, but Not Seen.”
She has been a teaching artist for the last two years with Cincinnati Public Schools and Charter Schools, and is an English as a Second Language (ESL) educator. She has over 14 years in mental health working with hospice patients. Also, she is a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter. She is a spoken word artist and ranks 5th in the nation.
Teaching/Spoken Word Artist: Faith Marie is born in Dayton and currently residing in Cincinnati, OH. She holds a B.A. in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, as well as a Master's in Public Health from the Ohio State University. With a strong focus on leveraging art and nature to deepen self-awareness, well-being, and access to justice, Faith is deeply passionate about engaging these domains as valuable sources of knowledge. She believes language is a form of empowerment and conscious raising. Her poetic form focuses on identity, personhood, heritage, and observation.
Singer/Teaching Artist: Shree Phillips is a dynamic strongstress with a soulful, gospel sound that relates to all crowds. Her love of music grew in her high school years when she was selected All-State an All-Festival from the choir at Middlesboro High School in Kentucky. She later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she began singing in New Born Lite Band and Show at the age of nineteen. Then she joined Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company (Now Duke Energy) Choir where she was a member for ten years. She has performed at countless funerals, weddings, and events and travels nationwide with Regal Rhythms Poetry LLC.
Teaching /Spoken Word Artist: A Slate is a scribe, mother, servant, film writer, recording artist, actress, international spoken word artist, and friend. She is the founder of Light Every Path, which houses The WRITElife Village, a platform designed for youth to creatively express themselves without judgment, bias, or fear, through poetry. Slate is a 2019 TEDxDayton speaker, and performer. She is also the writer and director of, “Five Graceful Shifts,” a 2020 Woman Scream Festival Film, and Culture Works Sponsored Collection, that speaks to mental illness and art as therapy. Empowered by The Most High God and Ephesians 2:8-10, she strives to aspire, inspire, edify, and encourage.
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Teaching/Spoken Word Artist: An internationally renowned Latina author from Mexico City, Violeta Orozco is a bilingual poet, performer and fiction writer who has earned numerous accolades for her two full-length poetry collections: The Broken Woman Diaries (Andante Books 2022), winner of the Juan Felipe Herrera Gold Medal for the best book of poetry in English and the Rising Stars Award at the International Latino Book Award, and Stillness in the Land of Speed (Jacar Press 2023), winner of the New Voices Poetry Award and a Pushcart nomination. Her forthcoming collection Atlas of An Ancient World will be published by Black Lawrence Press and a poem in the collection recently received an honorific mention by the Academy of American Poets.
Her fiction has received support from the Macondo Writer's Workshop in Texas and the writing residency of the Community of Writers of the High Sierra in California. She is a member of the board of Circulo de Poetas and Writers in California and has published individual poems in magazines such as A Gathering of the Tribes online magazine, Chicana/Latina Journal, The Journal of Latina Critical Feminism, Harvard's Palabritas, Label me Latina, Cloud Women's Quarterly Journal, Xinachtli Journal, Snarl Journal, IceFloe Press, among many others. She is currently completing her Ph.D. researching and translating Chicano and Latin American Literature, with a concentration in Creative writing at University of Cincinnati. She is also the translator of Sonia Gutiérrez' novel Dreaming with Mariposas into Spanish.
Teaching/Spoken Word Artist: Makiah Malan is a fierce poet from Covington, Kentucky. Her art focuses on social and political issues she has witnessed at the heart of her community. Beginning early in her life as just an outlet, her poetry represents the ideas, battles, and absolute glory of being a woman. She has been performing for 2 years and has won 3 poetry slams, 2 contests, and 2 awards.
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Teaching/Singing/Spoken Word Artist: Rosemarie Wilson a.k.a. One Single Rose®️ is an award-winning poet and playwright, spoken word artist, singer, actress, filmmaker, author of three self-published poetry collections, nice and naughty chapbooks. Rosemarie is the first poet to be filmed in Motown’s infamous Studio A and the first Motown Mic Performance Artist of the Year. Debuting in Detroit as an actor, she has performed nationally and internationally in a few amazing productions. Her notable performances include singing the National Anthem at a Detroit Piston’s game, TMZ Live commentary cast member, SoFar Detroit performing artist, the Floacist’s Flovertex and Sidewalk Festivals of the Performing Arts in Detroit, MI, Kistrech Poetry Festival in Kisii and Nairobi, Kenya, Piton International Film Festival in St. Lucia, International Videopoetry Festival in Athens, Greece as well as a one-year tour in Europe. She is currently a featured artist and songwriter dubbed Queen Rose with Defected Records, the United Kingdom’s #1 house music record label. Find her streaming on all platforms as One Single Rose®️ or Queen Rose. She is also the first poet published under the Broadside-Lotus Press merger, two of the oldest African-American presses in the United States. As a poetry host, she has hosted various open mics as well as performed for local and international dignitaries. For more information on One Single Rose®️, visit www.onesinglerose.com to peek into her rose garden.
Norman Riggs, Jr. (aka "Knowledge") was born in Cincinnati Ohio. Experiencing the Civil Rights Movement at a young age, inspires him today to speak out against social injustice and racism. He is a member of Poets Against Racism & Hate, the Ohio Poetry Association, a trainer for Poetry Out Loud, Regal Rhythms Poetry and Arts Equity Collective. He is a published author of "Lil of A Lot (and then some)" released in 2020, and "What I See" released in 2022. Both books are a collection of poems. He has hosted and performed several poetic events, performances, and poetry slams.
Teaching/Spoken Word Artist: Nick Fury is an author and spoken word poet born in Cincinnati Ohio. Former member of the Blood Speaks Slam Team, and current Slam Master of the Def Poets Society Slam Team. First published in 2004 in "Invoking The Muse", a collection of poems by The International Library For Poetry. His debut collection "Hashtags" was released in 2019.
Teaching/Singing/Spoken Word Artist: MoPoetry Phillips is a national spoken word artist, who graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is both the co-founder of Regal Rhythms Poetry LLC, which also curates Hit the Mic Cincy’s Open Mic, and founder of the nonprofit, Arts Equity Collective. She facilitates weekly writing circles, empowerment workshops, summer camps, and events within the schools, colleges, corporations, jail, and prison systems to use her creativity to make learning fun and engaging. Also, she curates, recruits artist, and creates empowerment and educational workshops. As a Middlesboro, Kentucky native, she is part of the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition (UACC). She is currently serving on the Juneteenth Committee, Board of Kids4Peace, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee for Women Writing for a Change where she previously served as a Board Member for two years. MoPoetry Phillips has been highlighted in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Herald, Street Vibes, Urban One Radio, WCVG, and WVXU Cincinnati Edition. Her passion is to unify spoken word artists to utilize their artistry to create a greater impact within the community, and to connect artists to opportunities.
Nanci J. Mays has spent 19 years as an educator for middle school students and is currently a teacher at St. Clements Catholic School. Previously, she has worked within the Cincinnati Public Schools as a paraprofessional and as an alternative learning instructor (ALS) which is a nontraditional education that puts the child at the center of learning rather than the teacher. Alternative learners are kids who struggle with everything from minor organizational problems to diagnosed issues such as learning difficulties, ADHD, or Autism Spectrum Conditions . She attended the University of Cincinnati and received a B.A. in English. She has been in education since 2006. In 2012, she received her M.A. in Christian Studies from Grand Canyon University with an emphasis in leadership and she speaks fluent Russian. In addition, she is part of the Cincinnati Youth Poetry Slam (CYPS) administrators and teaching artists which work to train students for spoken word competitons.
Jacqueline "Gifted" Johnson-Wilkinson's artistic creations started about 18 years ago. She has been a part of hosting a poetry vibe, known as SpokenWord Soul for 16 years at the legendary Greenwich. She has used her talents to become a catalyst to expand interest and access to poetry through reading, writing, speaking, and overall foster the love of language. She has hosted and participated in several poetic events and educational programs, elevating, and creating awareness with participants. “Gifted” is currently serving as the interim Executive Director of Mt. Healthy Alliance. She is the author of Books: Joy in Sorrow, Hope for Tomorrow, My 30 (2020 Vision), and Ripples which will be released in 2023.
Teaching/Spoken Word Artist: Ashley Harris (aka Poetic wisdom) is a Cincinnati native who grew up in a system of care (Foster system, Mental Health) and found the love for poetry when she went through her own mental health. Poetic wisdom feels her poetry is the healing not only for herself, but to help heal the world back with love, acceptance and knowing that broken crayons still make amazing masterpieces. Poetic wisdom hopes to empower, encourage, and inspire others through her poetry.
Teaching/Spoken Word Artist: Victoria Cipriani is an independently licensed social worker. Victoria has a passion for change and uses her poetry to spread knowledge about human rights, social justice, mental health, and diversity.
Yasmin Payne is a Paraprofessional in the Cincinnati area. She has been in the school systems close to seven years. Also, she specializes in behavioral health. She attended Cincinnati State and she is currently attending the University of Cincinnati. Poetry has been apart of her life since Ishe could remember. She is a spoken word artist. She states, "It is important that we teach our children about the arts. Poetry and education goes hand and hand, because our children are so talented and those talents come out through so many different experiences.'
Kesha Cole is a teacher, poet, and entrepreneur who currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. She loves teaching and has always had a special place in her heart for children. Some of her favorite areas of teaching include ELA and Social Studies. Having been a writer since she was a child, she always knew writing could liberate the spirit of anyone who enjoys it and can help make them better people. Funny and outgoing, she loves to create safe spaces where children and teens can freely express themselves and learn to reach their best potential. She developed a Youth Program at Unity Faith Missionary Baptist Church in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio called P.O.E.T.R.Y which stands for Putting Our Eyes Towards Recognizing Youth. This program consisted of introducing children and teens to creative & performing arts, life skills, and positive rap music. Participants attended field trips as well as learned skills such as filling out job applications, and how to express their feelings in a positive manner. Owner of a small business Kesha’s Krochet Kreations she designs handmade crochet products that she sells at various vending events as well as online. One of her goals is to donate hats and scarves to schools and homeless shelters so people can stay warm during the winter months, as well as create baby blanket baskets for expectant mothers who have little to no resources. She is a future Author who will release her first children’s book “Kesha Can Crochet” in the summer of 2024. One of her greatest accomplishments was graduating from Central State University with a Degree in Early Childhood Education and a minor in history. Other accomplishments include being trained in suicide prevention through the Talbert House of Cincinnati, Ohio in which she answered phone calls for the new nationwide suicide prevention hotline 988. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she always remembers her roots of literacy and writing and wants the youth to develop a love for both. Her ultimate goal is to strive to live life on purpose in order to fulfill her destiny.
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Moody Black has been a performing artist since the age of twelve and has become a prominent force on a multi-regional poetry scene through his enthusiastic live shows and strong work ethic. He has a long history as a teaching artist which includes being a Smarts Arts Teaching Artist, 2020 National Arts Integration and STEAM Virtual Conference Presenter, and TEDx performer.
Also, he is a motivational speaker, positive hip-hop artist, and comedian. Moody Black has received various awards including the 2020 South Carolina Underground Music Awards Nominee for “Best Male Model” and “Best Male Entrepreneur,” 2019-2020 Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville SC, SmartArts Teaching Artist of the Year 2017, GANSPA Award for Best Poet in the Nation, and Endie Fiyah (Indie Fire) Radio Legend Award. In addition, he was the host of the longest running open mic venue in the nation, The Say What?! in Greenville, SC, where he received the National Poetry Best Host of an Open Mic Venue Award in 2015. He has been featured on 107.3 JAMZ and 96.3 The Block. He can be found at @iammoodyblack on Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Mike Wade is a legendary trumpet player who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been playing trumpet since 4th grade which is over 50 plus years. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Central State University in 1992. He went on to complete one year Mastering in Classical Trumpet with the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He stopped to raise a family, but he never stopped pursing his dreams. He attended the Duke Ellington School of Arts and went on to become a Member of the National Symphony Fellowship Program hosted by the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in 1982. He taught music for Cincinnati Public School, Withrow, for over 25 years, and on a college level with Walsh College in New York, Kentucky State, Central State, and the University of Dayton. He was a guest artist, clinician, and taught a Master Artists Class in Cleveland, Ohio in May 2023. In addition to working within the schools, he has success on the road as well. He presently tours with Cameo, RNB pop supergroup, and has been Bootsy Collins studio trumpet player for over 20 years. In 2012-2013, he did an international tour with Bootsy Collins which included Japan. He was a band director at Withrow for 27 years (1997-2022). In addition, in October 2023, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame. He teaches students about voice, recognizing pitch and tone, and introduces them to woodwind, brass, percussion, and string instruments. His classes are very interactive including teaching students to do movements, learn beats, and how to count and clap. He can be hired as a solo artist, or part of a small and large jazz ensemble, a brass band, or jazz big band.
Bruce Finnell (aka Imjus Bruce) was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a proud father and advocate for Real Fathers Matter. He started writing poetry at the age of 15. He was introduced to the Hit The Mic Cincy team and Regal Rhythms Poetry by longtime friend Demontre Lewis, Author/Poet. Imjus Bruce is known for his witty word play and comedic spoken word bars.
Teaching/Spoken Word Artist Brince Etter is a dynamic spoken word artist hailing from East Prince Hill in Cincinnati. He is 1/3 of the group LOCness.
He is a 3x winner of the Cincinnati Poetry Slam and has been an artist at Elementz working with youth, and is a youth spoken word instructor for Poetry Out Loud representing Arts Equity Collective.
Kimberly Todd has been an educator for over 38 years: traditional, montessori, in-school and after school programs. She graduated from Spellmen where she received her BA in Early Childhood Education (birth-5th grade) in 2006. She received her Masters in Education from Grand Canyon University in 2013. While attending the University of Cincinnati, she completed her Student Practicum with the University of Cincinnati as a preschool, toddler, and home-based program student teacher. Over the years, she has worked with Cincinnati Public Schools, as a tutor, family advocate, Intervention Specialist, Head Start Coordinator, Preschool Promise Teacher, Project Connect Home Based Homeless Liaison, and Fatherhood Practitioner.
She has completed classes on life impact, self-leadership, and personal growth process. Also, she is a Trauma Informed Coach, Certified Life Impact Transformation Coach, and Advanced Neuroscience Coach through Life Impact LLC for children, couples, and singles. Neuroscience of Change involves principles for facilitating changes: how to decide what to change, how the brain opposes change, specific ways to help changing, and changing your mind and brain. In 2018, she became the founder and CEO of KLT Educational Services LLC which provides the community with educational services including tutoring and after-school care.
Antwan Jones is a Social Worker for Butler County and Certified Peer Recovery Supporter from the Ohio MHAS (Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services).He a BA in Fine Arts-Drawing/Painting Concentration from the University of Cincinnati, OH. Certified with the State of Ohio in Visual Arts - Grades K-12, and an arts educator with 33 plus years of Arts Education experience. Also, has been a liaison within the Cincinnati Public Schools and is a former museum educator. In addition, he has done daycare work for YMCA for over 7 years.
Krista Coleman currently works in Human Resources for Macy’s Corporation, though she has worked in daycare in the West Chester and Mason, Ohio area for over 4 years with a focus on Pre-K to 5 years of age. She received her Master’s in Business Administration from Perdue University. Her passion is connecting young men with expression through writing, activism for survivors, slave labor, and issues pertaining to homelessness, and working with kids with different abilities and learning styles. In addition, she has completed CPR/First Aid Training.
Dr. Tiffany Hinton is the founder, director, and lead facilitator of Black Girls Stay Lit (BGSL). She has a Ph.D in English from the University of Florida specializing in Africana Women’s Literary and Cultural Studies, M.A. in English , and B.A. in Journalism and African American Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She has taught at the college level for 13 years as a professor, and has over 30 years in education. In addition, she is an independent educational consultant. She focuses on raising the consciousness of students, allowing them to embody themselves, and become change agents. In addition, she has trained as a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) facilitator through the Well.
Ijah Lett has two years teaching experience through the Cincinnati Public Schools, and is currently working for Winton Hills High School as an Intervention Assistant, paraprofessional, and does 1-1 advocacy work. She is furthering her studies in January 2025 by attending Xavier for her B.A. in Social Work and Mental Health and Substance Abuse. She is the founder of clothing brand “Preserve Your Mind” which is related to mental health awareness. In addition, she is CPR and First Aid Certified.
Chef Catrina Mills was born and raised in Chicago with additional roots in New Orleans, two great food cities. She began cooking at the age of seven years old in her mother's restaurant. By the age of nine years old she was able to completely run and manage the kitchen alone. Fast forward to now. Chef Mills is a mother, published author, US Air Force (Gulf War) veteran and culinary science, and celebrity personal chef. She has owned her own restaurant specializing in international cuisines and currently in addition to being a personal chef and caterer, is an adjunct culinary instructor at The Midwest Culinary Institute and Chef Instructor for The Cooking School at Jungle Jim's International Market and collaborates with various entrepreneurs at Findlay Kitchen teaching classes right across the way from The Findlay Market in newly rediscovered Over The Rhine in Cincinnati, OH. Chef Mills also recently acquired the title of Findlay Culinary Training Program Manager where she works with clients at CityLink Center Cincinnati. Chef Mills has also worked as a R&D Technologist (Bakery Division) at Advanced Pierre (subsequently acquired by Tyson Foods), and as a contractor as Bakery Operations Manager for a local commercial bakery.
In addition to her spectacular catering business, Chef Mills has also created her own line of seasonings and spices which is currently sold at Jungle Jims. Chef Mills also travels to various cities hosting pop-up events and provides nutritional analysis and meal planning/prep for clients of all walks of life. . Her specific goal for 2025 is to serve the community by teaching MRDD clients to cook safe, quick meals.
Deseree Taylor has over 30 years of experience in early childhood education/ daycare including teaching at Greater Bethlehem Temple Daycare for eighteen years; fifteen years for the Hamilton County Math and Science Charter School (3rd-8th grade), and three years with the Cincinnati Achievement Academy. In addition, she was a paraprofessional for Winton Woods for one year. Not only is teaching youth under five her passion, she wants to use her Certification as a Cosmetologist to teach Professional/Career Development.
JD, M.S.W, L.I.S.W.S
Mary has over 30 years of experience in working with children and families impacted by poverty. Earning her Master’s degree in Social Work from Howard University in Washington, DC and her law degree from UIC John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL, she has worked as a social worker in the child welfare, mental health and school settings. She has practiced law as a GAL-Attorney with Hamilton County’s Public Defender’s office. Currently she is the Social Services Director at a major nonprofit in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is on the boards of Strategies to End Homelessness as well as the Advisory Board for the Social Work Department of Mt St. Joseph’s. Mary’s pride and joy is her son, Ryan, who is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Xavier University and who is currently a School Counselor in Middletown. Her motto is “Be kind to everyone you meet, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle.”
Ronald “Butch” Sanderson graduated from Robert A. Taft Senior High School in 1967, attended Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati. He is a graduate of Cincinnati Barber College and PORO Beauty College. In addition, he has been a cosmetology instructor for over 30 years. His love for music started in high school playing the drums. Although he stopped in the 70’s to raise a family, he started playing again 12 years ago and has been a band member of the Jazz Renaissance for about 10 years.
Tekiuh Hutton aka Teknical is a spoken word artist based in the Greater Cincinnati area. She has a BA in Psychology and she was the campus minister at Northern Kentucky University for 7 years. A lover of words and communication, she began to write short poems and songs in elementary school. During her undergraduate career, she discovered her love for the art of spoken word performance, as it proved to be a compliment to her expressive personality. Teknical aims to empower others to think critically and encourage a hopeful mentality through her creative writing .
Terri Lucas is a former Peer Recovery Supporter who has transitioned into Motivational Interviewing and domestic violence awareness and advocacy. The plans to utilize her knowledge of psychology of various substances within the work she does with survivors and has a passion for literacy and tutoring those impacted by mental, physical, and emotional trauma.